Velocipede



To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

" NITED STATES PATENTV Ormea.

IVER JOHNSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,224, dated March 13, l888 Application filed August i, 1887.

Be it known that I, IvER JOHNSON, of W'orcester, in the county of forcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figures I and 2 represent a plan and front view, respectively, of a part of the head and handle-bar of a bicycle with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a cross or transverse section through the handle-bar, showing a side view of part of the 'head' and my improve! ments. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical and horizontal sections taken on lines c and b, respectively, Figs. l and 2', looking in the directions indicated by the arrows. Fig. 6 isa cross or transverse section through the center ot' my improved handle-bar. Fig. 7 isa perspective View of the parts represented in Figs. l and 2, showing the handle-bar after having been inserted iu its holding recess or socket in the head prior to being turned therein .and fastened,as hereinafter described ,and FigsYS and 9 represent modifications in the construction of the handle-bar, also hereinafter described.

My invention is designed more especially for bicycles, but may be applied, if desired, to other similar vehicles.

It relates to the handle-bar attachment of such vehicles, and consists in the novel construction and arrangement, hereinafter set forth, whereby the handle-bar may be fastened in a secure and rigid manner, while at the saine time being readily detachable when re quired.

To enable those skilled in the art to which said invention appertains to obtain a full and clear understanding thereof, I will now proceed to describe it more in detail.

Referring to the drawings, the part marked A represents the upper end of the head, and B the central portion of the handle bar, of an ordinary bicycle. Said head A is made with a projection or bearing, C, projecting forward as well as laterally in opposite directions therefrom, to produce a cylindrical longitudinal opening, U', in which to receive and hold the Serial No. 245,876. (No model.)

handle-bar. Said bearing is also provided with a longitudinal opening upon the front side th ereof, whose central portion between the points c and d is about one-third smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical opening, for the purpose hereinafter described.

From the point c of the bearing around the back side to a point, c', opposite, about in line reduced in width to the point d, the purpose of which will be apparent from the description now following of the handle bar and the method of applying the saine to said bearing above described. In order that said handle bar may be inserted through the aforesaid narrow or contracted opening between the points c and d. a recess, e, is formed therein, a little longer than the width of the holding part d', as best shown in Fig. 6, by cutting out or compressing the metal, as preferred. In this irrstance said result is shown as being effected by the latter method. (See Fig. 5.) Being thus formed, it is obvious that by holding the bar with its narrow or depressed portion in line with the opening it may be readily inserted, as shown in Fig. 7, and after .having been thus inserted with its recess next to the part d', by now turning the same inits bearing, as indicated by the arrows in said Fig. 7, said recess or weakened part is made to come upon the back side thereof next to the head, thereby concealing the recess, and also, by bringing the solid portions of the handlebar upon the front exposed side, rendering said bar nearly or quite as strong and effective for use as if such recess were not made therein. Being thus turned or adjusted into the proper position for use, it may now be securely and rigidly fastened in said position by means of a bolt, f, passed through thebearing and said handle-bar, preferably from the bottom up, openings being formed therein for the purpose, as shown in the drawings.

IOO

If desired, the handle-bar may be re-enforced or strengthened Where recessed or cut out by inserting a solid piece of metal, g,of the proper shape, in said recess, as shown in Fig. 8; or a 5 short rod, h, may be inserted into the interior of said bar, as shown in Fig. 9.

In applying the piece of metal gthe handlebar without said piece is first inserted in its bearing, then slipped endwise a sufficient distance to admit of fitting said piece in the recess, when the bar is slipped back again and adjusted into its proper position,to be fastened by the bolt f, as previously described.

Ordinarily thelatter provisions would be unnecessary; but I reserve the right to thus make the handle-bar, if desired. I also reserve the right to make said handle-bar solid, with the recess formed therein in any convenient manner.

A handle-bar fastened as herein set forth, it is obvious, may be very conveniently and eX- peditiously detached, While at the same time, when thus fastened, it is held in a very rln and secure manner, and is not liable to be broken out of said fastening by any ordinary usage, for, as will be observed by the drawings, the strongest point in the holding-bearing is made to come over and back of the handlebar, where, as is Well known, the most strain is exerted by the rider in guiding his machine.

I do not limit myself to the particular shape of the projection or bearing C herein set forth, as the same may be varied to a certain extent and still effect the same result.

I am aware of United States Patent to E. G. Latta, No. 332,092, dated December 8, 1885, covering a depression to form flat surfaces bearing against a wedge or pin to prevent said bar from turning after having' been inserted longitudinally into its bearing and fitted in position, and therefore make no clainnbroadly,

to a depression in a handle-bar.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination of the velocipede-head having a projection or bearing, C, made with a cylindricalshaped longitudinal recess or hollow therein and a longitudinal opening in front considerably smaller at the center than the diameter of the handle-bar,with said handle-bar having a recess or depression therein, and the fastening-bolt f, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the velocipede-head having a projection or bearing, C, made with a cylindrical-shaped longitudinal recess or hollow therein and a longitudinal opening in front smaller at the center than the diameter of the handle-bar, with said handle-bar having a recess orV depression therein, wedge g, adapted to fit in said depression, and fastening-bolt f, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The method of detachably fastening the velocipede handle-bar, having the recess in the side thereof, to the head, having a bearing made With a cylindrical longitudinal opening therein and a horizontal opening in front Whose central portion is smaller than the diameter of said cylindrical opening, by inserting said handle-bar at its reduced part through the aforesaid narrow front opening .into the cylindrical opening, then turning it so as to bring its recess upon the back side thereof neXt to the head, and there fastening it by passing a bolt through said bearing and handle-bar, substantially as shown and described.

IVER JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

ALBERT A. BARKER, LUcIUs W. BRIGGs. 

